Brown-capped Babbler
Pellorneum fuscocapillus
Small brown babbler, with intense cinnamon underparts and a clear cut blackish brown cap. A terrestrial species occurring on or near the ground in forests, forest edge and nearby scrub and thickets in wooded areas, where typically encountered as pairs. Bold cap and underpart coloration make this distinctive in limited range on Sri Lanka. Repetitive song is a three note whistle “wit-wi-yoo”, ascending at the start and descending at the end. Other more complex warbles are given including an excited series of untidy, downslurred whistles.
Identification
The brown-capped babbler is a smallish to medium-sized babbler, at 16 cm (6.3 in) including its long tail. It is brown above and rich cinnamon below. It has a dark brown crown.<p>Brown-capped babblers have short dark bills. Their food is mainly insects. They can be difficult to observe in the dense vegetation they prefer, but like other babblers, these are noisy birds, and their characteristic calls are often the best indication that these birds are present.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pellorneum fuscocapillus
- Authority
- (Blyth, 1849)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Genus
- Pellorneum
Range and habitat
The brown-capped babbler is an endemic resident breeding bird in Sri Lanka. Its habitat is forest undergrowth and thick scrub. This species, like most babblers, is not migratory, and has short rounded wings and a weak flight.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Brown-capped babblers are usually believed to occur in pairs. Male birds make a distinctive call ("pretty dear") to attract other birds. Breeding season occurs during the first half of the year, during which time males exhibit territorial behavior. This babbler builds its nest on the ground or in a hole, concealed in dense masses of foliage. The normal clutch is two or three eggs.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Grallaria ayacuchensis
Medium-sized antpitta found only in a small area of the eastern Andes in south central Peru, not far from the city of the same name. Plumage is rich chestnut-brown with a hint of buff on the belly. Similar to Urubamba Antpitta but lacks a pale eyering. Knowledge of geographical range and song is very helpful for ID. Gives a short whistle repeated every couple of seconds as well as a quick, descending series of throaty notes. Inhabits cloud forest at high elevations and usually stays well-hidden on the ground, though may perch higher to sing. It was described as a new species in 2020, having previously been considered a form of Chestnut Antpitta.
White-cheeked Antbird
Gymnopithys leucaspis
Distinctive antbird with pale blue eyering and snowy white underparts and rusty upperparts. Black eyebrow and cheek extends through neck sides and down flanks. Occurs in lowland rainforest east of the Andes; no range overlap with similar Bicolored Antbird. Most often seen in the vicinity of army ant swarms, perched on vertical branches or vines close to the ground. Several individuals may gather at a large ant swarm. Listen for harsh descending “churr” calls that might be a clue that there’s an ant swarm nearby.
White-browed Scrubwren
Sericornis frontalis
Small scrubwren with white eyebrow and pale iris. Has a dark face with a clear white eyebrow and chin stripe. Primarily olive-brown with a black-and-white shoulder patch and paler front. Chin is white with varying levels of black streaking depending on the location. This species is widespread across eastern coastal Australia, but is absent in the northern areas. Western edge of its expected distribution is the Mt Lofty Ranges east of Adelaide. Found in a wide range of habitats but typically only present where there is reasonably thick undergrowth. It often makes a grumpy buzzing call but also sings a clear musical song.
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